Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme
A Unique Opportunity to Become More Profitable
Testimonials
"The workshop provides you with immediate solutions to business problems and also provides you with techniques to use in addressing future goals / objectives."
Mike Regan, Regan Construction Ltd
Innovation Marketplace Event
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Including 2008 Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards
Thursday 26 June 2008 : Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran
- Exhibition: 5.00–8.30pm Awards & Guest Speaker: 6.00–7.30pm
- Exhibition featuring 25 of the most innovative companies from the Heads of the Valleys and beyond. See "Meet the Exhibitors" below.
- Meet Procurement and Economic Development Officers from all 5 Heads of the Valleys local authorities
- 2008 Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards – open to any business or social enterprise organisation in the Heads of the Valleys region (Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf or Torfaen)
- Guest speaker: Ian Woodall, Everest Mountaineer, Author and Inspirational Speaker
3 Great Opportunities FOR YOU!
- Register as a visitor
- Book an exhibition stand
- Enter 2008 Innovation Awards – closing date 6 June 2008 (download 2008 Awards Information PDF and Awards Entry Form PDF)
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION – Delegates registered before 31 May 2008 will be entered in a prize draw for an Apple iPod, donated by BT.
Grow your business : Make new contacts : Be inspired
Meet the Exhibitors
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Aid Training Wales
Specialist training provider offering accredited Health & Safety training to individuals, groups and organisations across Wales and the South West.
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Bevan Foundation
Research centre and Think Tank
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The Blaenafon Cheddar Co & Mountain Tours Ltd
Small dairy producer of hand-made speciality Welsh cheeses, mountain tours and cycle hire
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Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Local Government: Meet our economic development and procurement teams
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BRFm
Community radio & Internet TV serving the community of Blaenau Gwent
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BT
Check out our latest special offers, products and services.
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Business Network International (BNI)
Networking organisation
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Caerphilly County Borough Council
Local Government: Meet our procurement team
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Community Enterprise Wales
Development support for social enterprises
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Design & Supply Ltd
Bespoke manufacturer of steel hinged doors
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H M Marketing Ltd
We help you jump-start your marketing to get more customers, make more sales and drive your success, whether you’re just starting out or building on success. FREE No-Cost, Low Cost Marketing Tips for every visitor
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HOVIP
Come and visit our stand to find out about proven and practical opportunities to help any business become more profitable, deliver results and develop its people. There are specific opportunities for businesses in the region and other opportunities for any private or public sector organisation, based elsewhere, to become more creative and innovative. We let our clients' results do the talking!
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HSBC
Are you getting started in business, or keen to manage your existing business better? HSBC Business Managers bring together all the news, information, and management best practice guidance you need to get the most out of your business.
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ITDA UK Ltd
Diver training & certification agency
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Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Business support and procurement services including the Orbit Business Centre
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Micaul Solar Ltd
Design, supply and installation of renewable energy systems
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My Little Angel
Providing office assistance, telephone answering, diary management, web design and IT support for SME’s and entrepreneurs
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NESTA
Devoted exclusively to supporting talent, innovation and creativity in the UK, NESTA aims to transform the UK’s capacity for innovation. Come and find out more about how NESTA encourages a culture that helps innovation to flourish.
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ngb2b - Newport & Gwent Chamber of Commerce
As the premier business support and networking body in South East Wales, ngb2b facilitates growth and commercial success by offering businesses, from sole traders to multi-nationals, a range of services designed around and for the people that own and direct it: its members.
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Nutrimetics International (UK) Ltd
Nutrimetics produces a fabulous range of skincare and make-up products which are all naturally enriched and botanically derived. Products and ingredients are not tested on animals and don’t include the use of any harsh chemicals.
We don't retail in stores. We bring the beauty salon to your door in small select pampering sessions; this keeps the cost of the product down and means we can offer a personalised service.
Nutrimetics has been established since the 1960s and has been in the UK since 1976. We are just getting going in Wales; there are terrific business opportunities for anyone who is interested in a new and flexible income stream with low start up costs.
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Real Valleys Media
Marketing and promotions
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Regan Construction
Regan Construction can provide a complete building service to domestic properties for extensions, alterations, renovations and conversions, including all related works. And also provide maintenance and repair service to properties.
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Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
RCT Business Support and Procurement teams want to tell you about our Business Grants, Procurement Workshops and thriving Business Club that will help you continue your success in Business Innovation.
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Rhymney Brewery
A brewery concerned with the brewing of local, traditional real ales, using only the finest ingredients.
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Royvon Dog Training Schools Ltd
Residential dog training school offeing all aspects of training and boarding
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St David’s Foundation & Lottery
Hospice Charity
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Taste of Enterprise
Helping all businesses including Art, Craft and Creative enterprises
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Theresa Campbell Aromatherapy
Manufacturer of hand made aromatherapy products by a qualified aromatherapist, plus on-site seated accupressure chair to help anyone reduce stress in either their personal life or workplace
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Virtual Assistance
The answer for today’s savvy business owner – a personal assistant providing administrative and executive support from an off-site location leaving you free to concentrate on developing your business. Come and find out how you can benefit.
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Virtually Assist Ltd
A skilled PA service for businesses. All services are delivered virtually. Managing your office... from my office
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Wales Quality Centre
Promoting continuous improvement in businesses in Wales – find out how you can benefit from a wide range of programmes and initiatives.
Exhibitors 2007
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Absolute Photography Wales
We service both Public and Commercial sectors and offer high quality, bespoke Wedding, Portrait and Commercial Photography packages, all of which include professional digital manipulation and retouching.
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Alexandra Smith Therapies
The Health and Safety Executive states that self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety account for an estimated 12.8 million reported lost working days per year in Britain at a cost to society of between £3.7 – £3.8billion every year (HSE 2005). On-site Complementary Therapies are proving to be a very popular and effective mechanism for treating workplace stress. Alexandra Smith Therapies offers comprehensive on-sire holistic services administering a range of treatments tailor-made to the specific requirements of your staff.
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BT
Visit the BT Internet Café at the Innovation Marketplace with OpenZone Internet Access.
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Business in Focus
Starting or developing a business is about the future. That's where we come in. Business in Focus delivers experienced advice and training to help your business grow.
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Call Catchers
If you're looking for the highest quality telephone answering service, Call Catchers have got the answer! Our team will answer phone calls in your own company name, give out information when required, take messages and relay them to you or your colleagues by email or SMS instantly anywhere in the world.
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Core Multimedia
We build better websites……find out what we can do for you.
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Design & Manufacture
Whatever your engineering requirements, we are the one-stop shop you've been looking for. From bespoke design or work to your specification – prototyping, small and large batches, production work and project management – all under one roof. We pride ourselves on our quick turnaround of orders and 'on-time-deliveries'. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your requirements.
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Entrepreneur Action
Entrepreneur Action provides a specialist business support service to new and existing businesses and exclusively delivers the High Growth Programme – an intensive three year business support package woth £40,000 for Welsh Entrepreneurs who want to achieve £1million+ turnover within three years.
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GTi
GTi provides a hotdesking business incubation service for undergraduates, graduates and entrepreneurs in the EU's Objective 1 area of Wales. GTi is FREE for up to 18 months. So with no office running costs to worry about and plenty of dedicated, professional support, you can concentrate on setting-up and developing your business.
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Gwent Business Women's Network (GBWN)
The Gwent Business Women's Network is here to provide a helping hand to women in business, reflecting the contribution that female entrepreneurs and managers are making to business success in South East Wales. GBWN provides members with opportunities for networking, support, personal and professional development. Membership is open to women in any type of business and at every stage of development from those in business start-up phase to those working in established businesses.
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Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP)
Come and visit our stand to find out about proven and practical opportunities to help any business become more profitable, deliver results and develop its people. There are specific opportunities for businesses in the region and other opportunities for any private or public sector organisation, based elsewhere, to become more creative and innovative. We let our clients' results do the talking!
-
H M Marketing Ltd
We help you jump-start your marketing to get more customers, make more sales and drive your success, whether you're just starting out or building on success.
FREE No-Cost, Low Cost Marketing Tips for every visitor.
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Ignite
Ignite offers sound commercial and strategic advice and implementation across a range of operational needs. Ignite serves to help the business community drive their companies forward with services such as:
- HR 'health checks' to policies and contracts
- Accountancy and finance
- Website development, web design, emarketing and IT support
- Training and development
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International Business Wales
Part of the Welsh Assembly Government, IBW can help you:
- Identify and research overseas markets
- Identify and meet foreign partners
- Manage international projects
- Develop a bespoke export strategy
- Learn about your targeted country.
Our support network is global. We can unearth new opportunities and help you convert them into real business.
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The Jane Oliver Collection
Hand made jewellery
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JJ Maintenance Ltd
Electrical contractors and property services.
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Juicy Design
If you have a thirst for all things beautiful and want individual style at affordable prices, our savvy interior design solutions promise to offer your living space or rental property a new lease of life.
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Heads of the Valleys Strategy
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HSBC
Are you getting started in business, or keen to manage your existing business better? HSBC Business Managers bring together all the news, information, and management best practice guidance you need to get the most out of your business.
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KTS Owens Thomas
We prefer to go well beyond traditional accounting practices by first getting under the skin of a business – and then helping it discover new and realistic possibilities for growth that will more than repay our fee.
Sponsors of the Innovation Marketplace One-to-One private meeting room.
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Regan Construction Services
Construction services offering carpentry, building and maintenance services for both the domestic and commercial markets.
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My Little Angel
Not enough hours in a day? Make life that little bit easier with My Little Angel. We offer personal assistant and domestic services and undertake the chores you haven't got the time for. Visit us to find out how we can help you manage your daily life – help with domestic chores, dog walking, remote office administration, telephone answering and more.
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NESTA
Devoted exclusively to supporting talent, innovation and creativity in the UK, NESTA aims to transform the UK's capacity for innovation. Come and find out more about how NESTA encourages a culture that helps innovation to flourish.
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ngb2b – Newport & Gwent Chamber of Commerce
As the premier business support and networking body in South East Wales, ngb2b facilitates growth and commercial success by offering businesses, from sole traders to multi-nationals, a range of services designed around and for the people that own and direct it: its members.
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Presto Solutions Ltd
Affordable web solutions for all businesses. As the world wide web gains prominence, websites have become valuable and sought after marketing and advertising tools. A good website relays professionalism but it should not be a financial burden which is why Presto Solutions specialises in creating high quality customised sites at minimal costs.
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Purple Prose
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Rhymney Brewery
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Royvon Dog Training School
The Nation's First and Leading Specialists for Residential Dog Obedience Training and Behaviour Management! Our methods are based on positive reinforcement techniques and our purpose is to enhance the quality of life for dogs and their owners. A well trained dog is a happy dog! Come and see how we can help you.
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Saurus Limited
Saurus manage and optimise "pay per click" search engine marketing to bring your website more visitors, increase the conversion rate for those visitors and at the same time dramatically reduce your marketing costs. It's all about performance!
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Swansea Institute of Higher Education – The Achievable Access Project
The Achievable Access Project (TAAP) provides information, advice and support to tourism businesses across Objective 1 Wales with regard to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). With an estimated 10million disabled people in the UK with a disposable income of around £80billion a year, tourism businesses have an excellent opportunity to attract this new market. TAAP works closely with business owners to guide them through what can be done to make the business more suitable for the needs of disabled people.
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University of Glamorgan Commercial Services Ltd (Merthyr Tydfil College)
We provide tailored training and consultancy services that have helped clients from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors achieve measurable financial, customer service and people benefits. Come and meet us and enter our surprise summer-time draw or contact ugcs@merthyr.ac.uk
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Virtual Assistance
The answer for today's savvy business owner – a personal assistant providing administrative and executive support from an off-site location leaving you free to concentrate on developing your business. Come and find out how you can benefit.
-
Wales Quality Centre
Promoting continuous improvement in businesses in Wales – find out how you can benefit from a wide range of programmes and initiatives.
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Workplace Health Connect
Workplace Health Connect is a free advice service designed to give free, practical and impartial advice on workplace health, safety and return-to-work issues, to smaller businesses (with 5 to 250 workers) in England and Wales. It is set up in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive.
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Xenos Wales Business Angel Network
Xenos is the Wales Business Angel Network – a business introduction service which introduces investors to companies seeking growth funding and who are prepared, in return, to offer an equity share in the business.
Becoming an Exhibitor. Find out why you should exhibit
The Innovation Marketplace offers a unique opportunity to reach a highly motivated audience of both business people and consumers from South Wales and the South West.
Exhibiting at the Innovation Marketplace will enable you to
- Demonstrate and showcase your products and services
- Make sales and create qualified leads
- Expand your prospect database and build business relationships
- Increase your business profile
- Grow your business
This event offers outstanding value-for-money – exhibiting has never been more affordable!
Cost per space (3 × 2m) is – £50+VAT for any business established less than 12 months and any social enterprise business
– £100+VAT for all other organisations
You get a full package of support to help you achieve maximum return on your investment.
- Exhibition space, display table and exhibitors name board
- Extensive, targeted marketing and PR campaign leading up to the event
- Additional marketing support through our Sponsors and Partners BT, HSBC, ngb2b Newport Chamber of Commerce, NESTA and Wales Quality Centre
- Pre-event training and marketing opportunity for all exhibitors
- And if you tell us who you want to meet, whilst we can't guarantee they'll attend, we will target your preferred visitors.
Book NOW (download Exhibitor Booking Form PDF)
Sponsors 2008
Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP) aims to increase the capacity for innovation in businesses in the region. Phase 1 was KEF ESF Funded and hosted by Merthyr Tydfil College. HOVIP2 is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government HoV Regeneration initiative and is hosted by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. Website produced by Core Multimedia.
